Minister Muthalib: Most projects stalled with no funds in budget

Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib states projects awarded to Fenaka Corporation by the former administration is currently stalled with no funds in the state budget allocated for the prevailing year to resume these projects.

He made the remark while responding to a question by a lawmaker at Monday’s parliamentary sitting.

Whie lawmakers had inquired about various projects across the nation, Minister Muthalib reiterated that physical works on some of the projects had remained stalled in the past five years.

In this regard, he detailed that most water and sewerage projects awarded to Fenaka Corporation had been stalled when the current administration assumed office. He also noted that Male’ Water and Sewerage (MWSC) had been negligent in the implementation of some of the projects awarded to the company.

“There are a lot of projects. When we assumed office, sewerage projects at most islands had been stalled. Projects awarded to Fenaka had been completely halted,” the Minister said.

He then spoke regarding the fact that the budget allocated for this year does not have sufficient funds to resume the projects.

Henceforth, Minister Muthalib said efforts were underway in collaboration with Finance Ministry to identify which projects can be resumed, adding the specifics of the projects can only be established once the work is complete.

He further noted that efforts were underway in collaboration with the Finance Ministry to secure funds for some projects.

“Many projects have been included in the budget. However, the funds required to implement these projects have not been included. For example, about two to three Maldivian Rufiyaa might be allocated for the development of a causeway. This is not feasible to implement the project,” he explained.

The Minister said the government targets to facilitate basic services required by the public such as sewerage services within two years.

In this trajectory, he detailed that surveys were being conducted through MWSC and that a tender had been submitted for the purpose of awarding the project to the company.